Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Music & Gems: Why Do They Trigger Our Emotions?

I was in the car the other day when a song came on the radio that got me thinking. I had heard the song quite a bit when its album was about to drop months ago. But, it had been a while since I'd heard it on my local country station. It was a Taylor Swift song, Red.

As I drove down the highway, parts of the chorus got me thinking. She equates certain colors with particular emotions. In our society, certain colors have traditionally been reserved to represent specific feelings. So as I listened, I wondered..."Is this why certain gemstones are societally accepted to represent certain emotions and why we still find ourselves drawn to them? For the sake of representing emotions that we have a hard time verbally expressing?"So my mind, of course, turned to jewelry! I listened to the chorus, "Loving him was red," and my mind raced to rubies. Love has long been associated with the color red. And, according to CrystalVaults.com, the "ruby has always been a talisman of passion, protection and prosperity. It symbolizes the sun, and its glowing hue suggests an inextinguishable flame within the stone that legends claim would shine through even the thickest clothing and could not be hidden."

What better way to commemorate your love than with this ruby & 22k gold necklace from Aurum Jewelry for $340.

The next line was, "Losing him was blue like I'd never known." What blue stone could represent loss? The first stone I thought of was lapis lazuli. I thought back to the sarcophagus that I had seen recently on display at the Nelson-Atkin Museum with it's deep lapis blue decorations. And, again according to CrystalVaults.com, "the golden sarcophagus of King Tutankhamen was richly inlaid with Lapis, as were other burial ornaments of Egyptian kings and queens." In ancient Egypt, death wasn't the morbid affair that we think of in our current society so it makes sense that they would pick such a vibrant stone with star-like golden flecks to reflect their version of the afterlife.

If I was going to choose a ring to represent loosing of someone in a figurative sense, this stunner would certainly be my choice! It is a 14kt vintage lapis lazuli & diamond ladies ring presented by Eternal Fine Jewels for $480.

The final line from the song that stuck with me was "Missing him was dark grey all alone," and it immediately occured to me that a grey moonstone was the perfect choice! The grey moonstone "draws love, interpersonal relationships [and] healing for women" according to GemstoneMeanings.us. Of course missing someone is a part of the healing process.

So what other gemstones cause an emotional reaction in us? For me, I see onyx and I immediately think of death and mourning. I think of the strength needed to carry on after someone you love has passed. I must not be the only one because even GemstoneMeanings.us cites onyx as having the ability to "raise one’s resistance and persistence, enabling one to carry even unmanageable tasks." Which, if you've ever lost someone dear to you it; grieving their loss can be a daunting task.

This is an antique Edwardian onyx & 14K rose gold, Gothic Mourning Christian Cross Pendant that I found on eBay by Western_Fancy for $350.

Of course, I've neglected the most famous, well-known gemstone....the diamond! For centuries diamonds have been a symbol of love and purity. Because of its unmatched hardness and clarity, it has also symbolized power, strength, brilliance and unparalleled beauty. Throughout history many regarded them as magical. Not only were they rare and beautiful but they could not be cut and they were impervious to fire. The ancient Greeks believed diamonds were tears of the gods and the Romans believed they were splinters of fallen stars. What better stone to represent the opposite of emotion of death than an ever-lasting love?

This stunning beauty is a platinum set, 6.01carat cushion-cut diamond set within a double pave frame ring found on 1st Dibs presented by J.Birnach, price upon request.

So what jewelry or gemstones do you have that remind you of a place, a person or a feeling that you never want to forget?

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And Here I Am.....

I grew up in a very artistic home with a deep appreciation for history. The history of our lineage, of the antiques we were surrounded by and the memories we were making. Every thing we touch tells a story of the people who came before us. The jewelry they wore is a huge part of these histories. And I am pleased to have the opportunity to touch and to be a part of these shared, jeweled stories.